Loom shuttle



LOOM SHUTTLE,

Filed April 1 1941 J. J. KAUFMANN, JR 2,336,937 r Patented Dec. 14, 1943 F it LOOM SHUTTLE Application April 1, 1941, Serial No. 386,244

5 Claims. (Cl. 139-223) My invention relates to shuttles for looms, and it relates more particularly to the provision of improved means for automatically threading the weft in shuttles of the type in which the filling bobbin is changed from time to time to replenish the supply of weft.

The threading blocks originally used in automatically threading shuttles for looms were usually made of brass or other similar ductile material, this by reason of the ease with which such metal could be worked, lending itself not only to the ordinary machining operations but also permitting portions to be bent or formed, when desired, to the proper shapes for effecting the threading operations.

It has for some time been recognized that threading blocks made of cast iron have much better wearing characteristics than those made of brass or other ductile materials, tending to longer life, and in fact enabling the threading 1 blocks to be reused in new shuttle bodies after the wooden parts of the original shuttles have become worn and damaged. However, no satis factory threading block made primarily of a single integral piece of cast iron has heretofore been devised, and recourse was usually had to the insertion, in the thread channel of the block, of a scroll which was punched and formed from sheet metal and inserted in the block (of. U. S. Patent No. 1,483,492.)

lhe principal object of the present invention is to provide improved threading means for automadcaliy threading shuttles, comprising primarily a single piece threading block which may be readily cast, preferably of cast iron, and in which such as is required may be done by machine operations of a simple and inexpensive character.

A further object of the invention is to provide a threading block made of an integral casting, which may be cast iron, or the like, and is so shaped as to operate in an efficient and satisfactory manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a shuttle of the character aforesaid, a threading block which is so shaped that the filling thread will be initially guided therethrough, to the proper operating location, in a smooth and easy manner, whereby breaking of the filling on the transfer will be largely eliminated.

a further object of the invention is to so shape the threading block that the proper tension will be imparted to the filling as it is laid in the shed.

The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a top or plan View of the threading end portion of a shuttle embodying the main features of present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top or plan View of the threading block detached from the shuttle body;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the shuttle body and threading block mounted therein;

Fig. 6 is a top or plan view of the casting from which the threading block is made; and

Fig. '7 is an end elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawing, in the particular embodiment of a loom shuttle of my invention therein shown, the shuttle body it is preferably made of wood, and has the usual bobbin chamber H in which the bobbin I2 is held by the usual means (not shown), whereby it may be readily discharged therefrom, and a new bobbin substituted therefor, as the filling runs out from time to time.

The shuttle body If] is provided with the usual side delivery eye I3, the sides of which may be protected by a hardened steel eyelet M or the like, to take the wear caused by the run of the filling.

The threading block, comprising the principal novel element of my present invention, comprises primarily a single integral casting and has its body portion l5 provided with side surfaces l6 and H parallel with each other and its bottom surface 58 substantially at right angles thereto. The body portion it of the threading block is fitted into a complementally shaped groove I9 in the body portion I0 of the shuttle and, by reason of the shape of said body portion of the threading block, said groove may be easily and conveniently out in the body portion of the shuttle.

The body portion H: of the threading block is provided with a longitudinal channel 20 through which the thread passes during the weaving operation as the filling is laid into the cloth.

The usual horn 2! extends rearwardly from the body portion of the threading block, being cast integrally therewith. The horn 2! has a lip 22 at its rear end which serves to prevent the thread from jumping out after it has once passed into the channel 20. The top surface of the horn 2! is suitably curved being in part a continuation complementally shaped surface of the shuttle body ll), thereby providing an abutment which assists in properly positioning the thr block in the shuttle body.

At the inner end of the body portion l5 of the threading block there is provided another hornlike member 25 cast integrally with the body portion I5 of the threading block, extending over.

the thread'channel and then downwardly and rearwardly into the thread channel 20, being of a continuous taper from the place where it is joined to the body portion [5 of the block and extending adjacent the bottom of the tunnel well beyond the medial line of the body portion I5 of the block (see Fig. 3). The top surface of the horn portion is flush with the adjacent surface of the shuttlebody and thus eliminates the formation of any reentrant grooves in which the thread might become fouledand whichconstitute a common source or trouble in the threading blocks with inserted sheet metal scrolls.

Extending outwardly beneath the front horn portion 2| is an extension '33 of the side wall of the body portion 15 of the threading block. The marginal edge I 34 of aforesaid extension 33 is disposed at an angle downwardly and inwardly, terminating "a sufficient distance above the bottom of the groove 19 in'the body portion 18 of the shuttle to permit the weft thread, during the threading operation, to pass below the same and thence through a recess which is'pro- 'vided at the bottom of said wall extension adjacent the base part of the body portion IE or the threading block. Y a Preferably, a hardened steel pin 26 extends transversely across the thread channel 20 of the threading block, being mounted at its ends in the side walls of the threading block and serving to prevent wear on thethreading block as the thread passes into the recess 35 and thence into the eyelet M in the side of the shuttle. I V The threading block is retained in position in the shuttle body by means of a transversely extending bolt 2! which passes through the base part of the body portion I 5 of thethreading block below the'thread channel 20.

The threading block is made of a unitary casting,finitially asshown in Figs. G and '7 of the drawing' It will be noted that the casting is of such form that the pattern may be readily drawn from'the'niold without use of cores, which would increase the cost of the casting and which would also result in the discarding of a number of the Ccastin'gs, byreason of faulty alignment of such cores, if the same were used.

After the castingis made in the form as shown in Figs-6 and '7,- thesame is drilled and taper reamed as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing to formthe hole 28. A special tool-may be employed for this purpose, if desired. It will be noted that the drill and reamer ,are guided into the casting at a suitable angle as illustrated. I I a v 7 After the tapered holev Z8jis formed in the casting,-a curved slot 29 is cut therein, as illustrated in Fig. 3of the drawing, this slot being eading formed by a narrow metal cutting band saw, although, if desired, a jig saw or saber saw may be employed for this purpose. The slot 28 extends first downwardly and then around underneath the part of the casting which provides the horn portion 25 which is positioned at the rear of the thread channel 29, and which is formed by the original shape of the casting, the drilling of the taper hole 28 therein and the cutting of the curved slot 29 as above described.

By the present invention, there is provided a threading block of hard cast metal which is much superior to the types of blocks heretofore employed, in which the sheet metal scrolls in he threading block are provided to prevent excessive ballooning of the warp as it comes off the bobbin. The integral tapered horn at the rear end of the thread channel serves to prevent unthreading of the block as the thread swirls about when it isirapidly withdrawn from the bobbin during the weaving operation.

It will be noted that in the use of a loom shuttle having a threading block constructed as herein setforth, there will be little tendency for the filling thread to cast loops over the horn at the rear end of the thread channel and that if such loops be thrown, they will be easily cast on; but more particularly that there will be no opportunity for the thread to catch between the horn in the rear of the threading block and the side wall of the body portion thereof as frequently occurs in the use of threading blocks in which inserted sheet metal scrolls are used in this location.

I claim: I V 1. An automatically threading, loom shuttle having a threading block made primarily of a single integral hard metal casting and provided with a thread channel extending longitudinally therein, said threading block having an integral thread retaining horn portion extending into the thread channel from one of the side walls of the body portion, said horn portion extending downwardly below the level of the axis of the thread channel and rearwardly and then extending inwardly with respect to the other side wall of the body portion, and said integral horn portion being continuously tapered to its free end.

2. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a threading block made primarily of a single integral hard metal casting and provided with a thread channel extending longitudinally therein, said threading block having an integral thread retaining horn portion extending into the thread channel from one of the side walls of the body portion, said horn portion extending downwardly below the level of the axis of the thread channel and rearwardly and then extending inwardly with respect to the said walls of the body portion to a point beyond the vertical plane of the axis of the thread channel, said integral horn portion being continuously tapered to its free end. a

3. An automatically threading loom shuttle having a threadingiblock made primarily of a single integral hard metal casting and provided with a thread channel extending longitudinally therein, said threadingblock having an integral thread retaining horn portion extending into the thread channel from one of the side walls of the body portion; said horn portion extending downwardly below the level of the axis of the thread channel and rearwardly and then extending inwardly with respect to the said walls of the body portion to a point beyond the vertical plane of the axis of the thread channel, said integral horn portion being continuously tapered to its free end, said threading block also having an inserted hardened steel pin extending across the thread channel near the lower rearward end thereof.

l. An automatically threading 100m shuttle having a threading block made primarily of a single integral hard metal casting and provided with a thread channel extending longitudinally therein, said threading block having an integral thread retaining horn portion extending into the thread channel from one of the side walls of the body portion, said horn portion extending downwardly below the level of the axis of the thread channel and rearwardly and then extending inwardly with respect to the said walls of the body portion to a point beyond the vertical plane of the axis of the thread channel, said integral horn portion being continuously tapered to its free end, said threading block also having the usual thread guiding horn structure at its rearward end.

5. An automatically threading loom shuttle: having a threading block made primarily of a single integral hard metal casting and provided with a thread channel extending longitudinally therein, said threading block having an integral thread retaining horn portion extending into the thread channel from one of the side Walls of the body portion, said horn portion extending downwardly below the level of the axis of the thread channel and rearwardly and then extending inwardly with respect to the said walls of the body portion to a point loeyondthe vertical plane of the axis of the thread channel, said integral horn portion being continuously tapered to its free end, said threading block having the usual thread guiding horn structure at its rearward end, and also having an inserted hardened steel pin extending across the thread channel near the lower rearward end thereof.

JOHN J. KAUFli/IAIJN, J R. 

